In January I'm planning on taking the plunge big-time and buying a new AV receiver, the Yamaha RX-V2700, and a whole new 7.1 speaker system. After many months of reading reviews I've decided on Axioms and would like some advice from you helpful owners. The home theatre room in our new house--we just took possession last Friday--is 13 feet wide, 19.5 feet long, and just a hair under 8 feet high. I have a digital projector and a 118" screen, so we'll be seated back about 14 feet. I'm pretty much set on M60's for the fronts, a VP150 for the centre, and an EP350 for the sub. It's the surrounds that I'm debating. What advantage will the QS8's give me over the QS4's in a 7.1 set-up? It seems to me that having 4 surrounds is almost too much since most of the important sounds are coming from in front of the audience, but I want 7.1 for the next generation of high-def DVD's. I'll mostly be using the home theatre for movies, so there won't be too much listening to CD's, but I'm sure when I first get the new system I'll be listening to everything under the sun.

So what would you suggest I do? Go with 4 QS8's, or 4 QS4's? Besides being a little more expensive, how much difference would I notice with the bigger QS8's? How about 2 QS8's for the surrounds, and 2 QS4's for the rear surrounds?

A fellow Calgarian, just took possesion last week? Crazy market over here, we took possesion of our house 2 months ago...

In any case, you will most likely get a response from the majority stating you should get at least QS8s for your side surrounds. You will get a larger soundstage and sound enveloping around you with a bit deeper response than the QS4s.

I am currently builing a theatre in my basement, room is 16 x 14, i am planning on QS8s for the sides mainly because i want to avoid upgraditus.

A lot comes out of the left/right surround channels, so I would throw my vote in for Qs8's for the sides. That is a good sized room. The rears don't get as much action in DVD's, unless your receiver has Dobly PLIIx, which most do these days, which will then matrix seperately the rear channels into the mix. Some like to use bookshelf speakers for the rear channels, primarily for music listening. However, I think my 4 qs8's do great in both categories. A lot depends on your budget. Also, you can save 10% if you use the factory outlet, and another 5% if you buy 5 or more items at the time of order.